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King’s recognised for excellence in Parkinson’s care

18 August 2026 - The Trust has once again been recognised as a Parkinson’s Foundation Centre of Excellence.

Specialist Parkinson’s teams at King’s have received international recognition for their patient-focused, integrated care.

King’s College Hospital has once again been recognised as a Parkinson’s Foundation Centre of Excellence, reaffirming its position as one of only two centres in the UK to hold this official classification.

Following a review in June 2026 by the Parkinson’s Foundation, King’s has been awarded as a Centre of Excellence for a further five years. This prestigious classification recognises centres across the world that demonstrate excellence in multidisciplinary care, research, education, workforce development, community engagement and service innovation.

Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterised by slowness of movement, resting tremor, and stiff and inflexible muscles. Most people with Parkinson’s start to develop symptoms when they’re over 50, although some people with the condition first experience symptoms when they’re under 40.

A headshot of Catherine McLean

Catherine McLean is one patient who has been receiving treatment at King’s since 2016. She said: ” I was just 46 years old when I found out I had young-onset Parkinson’s disease. Although my diagnosis was a shock, I began to feel more reassured when I discovered the range of support available from King’s, including its renowned Movement Disorder Clinic. I feel extremely lucky to be a patient here.

“Right from the start, I wanted to find ways for my diagnosis to somehow be useful, and spoke to the research team. As a result, I’ve taken part in projects involving MRI scans, questionnaires, sensory tests and targeted exercise such as ballet and Tai Chi. It makes me feel that something positive could come out of my situation, and together with the team at King’s, I can help Parkinson’s patients in years to come.”

The Parkinson’s Foundation review team highlighted the dedicated and collaborative multidisciplinary team at King’s, which provides personalised, patient-centred care to an expanding population of people with Parkinson’s disease across a large geographic catchment area.

The review recognised several areas of innovation and excellence at King’s, including:

  • The Parkinson’s Neuropsychiatry Referral Service; the first of its kind within the NHS, which the Foundation identified as a model for other centres.
  • King’s College Hospital’s strong academic-clinical partnership with King’s College London, where research is integrated into clinical practice, providing patients with opportunities to participate in research alongside receiving specialist care.
  • King’s community education and outreach initiatives. Around 40% of people with Parkinson’s disease who use the service represent diverse and minority ethnic communities: one of the highest levels of diversity across the Parkinson’s Foundation Global Care Network.
  • Opportunities for patients to engage and support regional and national initiatives to improve Parkinson’s disease care.

Miriam Parry, Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Consultant and Clinical Coordinator of the Parkinson’s Foundation Centre of Excellence at King’s College Hospital, said: “We are incredibly proud to have been redesignated as a Parkinson’s Foundation Centre of Excellence. This recognition reflects the dedication, expertise and compassion of our entire multidisciplinary team and the commitment of everyone involved in delivering outstanding care for people living with Parkinson’s disease.

“The Foundation’s review highlighted the breadth of our work, from innovative clinical services and advanced therapies to research, education, workforce development and community engagement. We are particularly proud that our Parkinson’s Neuropsychiatry Referral Service has been recognised as a model for other centres, and that our commitment to developing sustainable Parkinson’s services has been acknowledged.

“This achievement belongs to our staff, patients, carers, and partners across healthcare, academia and the voluntary sector. Remaining one of only two Parkinson’s Foundation Centres of Excellence in the UK reflects the strength of our collaboration and our shared commitment to improving outcomes for people with Parkinson’s disease.”

 

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